1. LTee time? Amazingly enough, the Chargers made it to January, which ostensibly is the month where you have to have a running game to stay alive. For little more than two quarters last week, everybody saw what the Chargers are capable of doing with a healthy LaDainian Tomlinson and room to run, and it was an impressive sight. Again, though, Tomlinson's health is the major question of the postseason. Conversely, there's only one team in the NFL that's run for less yardage than the Colts, who also ranked no higher than 24th in stopping the run. Much owing to the health of Indy's own No. 21. (See No. 3.)

2. Peyton's Place: That is, the place where he's standing, with the emphasis on standing. For all the histrionics he goes through before the snap from the ankles up – the knee-jerking and the arm-flailing and neck-bowing – pay more attention to Manning's feet. If they're planted firmly on the ground as he goes to throw, the Chargers are in for a heap o' trouble. If they're forced to move while he's looking for receivers and delivering the ball, there's more of a chance that his pass will be a little less than perfect, which is about the best you can hope for against Manning.

3. The Sandman: Watch closely what the Chargers – and virtually all Colts opponents – watch almost constantly when Indianapolis is on defense. That would be Bob Sanders, the rare safety who dictates what both his defense and the other guys' offense is doing. Perhaps more than any strong safety in the game, Sanders often can be found in the “box,” waiting for the run while still able to get back for the pass. Except this year, the defending Defensive Player of the Year has been in and out of and play, slowed by knee and ankle injuries. How much slower should be readily apparent.

4. Chambers music: In one respect, Indianapolis represents the last anyone saw of the real, full-on Chris Chambers, who received a season-high six of Philip Rivers' 24 completions against the Colts on Nov. 23. None were for touchdowns. Way back on Oct. 5, Chambers led the league with five TD catches, but he hasn't had one since. Back to relatively good health, Chambers has gradually been working his way back into the Chargers' plans, and he's about due to bust a big game. Even if he is playing against a defense that's given up just six TD passes all year.

5. Tighten up, take 17: New season. Same story. If you have a tight end, you always have hope against the Chargers, and Dallas Clark is one of the very best at making himself available for catches. As much as the Chargers have missed Shawne Merriman's fiery demeanors and pass rush, they've also missed his ability to jam up tight ends coming off the line, and Manning loves to use Clark in much the same manner that the Chargers go to Antonio Gates.

The cameras may focus more on the other side, where gigantic left tackle Marcus McNeill again will be wrestling around with whirling-dervish Dwight Freeney, the Colts' more celebrated pass-rusher. Fact is, the relentless Mathis has more sacks than Freeney over the past four seasons, including 11.5 this year and 1.5 in the November game at San Diego. He has to be kept off Rivers, the victim of one of Mathis' five forced fumbles in 2008.

Chargers on defense: NT Jamal Williams vs. C Jeff Saturday

It was sometime during the first Colts-Chargers game that a monster from the deep re-emerged, that being Williams, who ate up the Colts in gulps. Williams is a dominator, to be sure, but it must be noted that Indianapolis spent most of that game without the veteran Saturday at snapper. He strained a calf muscle in the early going and left, not to return to the field. Due to injury, Saturday hasn't been the same through much of the season, and neither has the Colts running game.